Confronting Evil: A Christian Responsibility

Woe to those who call evil good,

and good evil;

who put darkness for light,

and light for darkness;

who put bitter for sweet,

and sweet for bitter!

Isaiah 5:20

There is an evil which I have seen

under the sun and it is common

among men;

Ecclesiastes 6:1

This is an evil in all that is done under the sun:

that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of

the sons of men are full of evil; madness

is in their hearts while they live, and after that

they go to the dead.

Ecclesiastes 9:3

            There is nothing new under the sun. Men are men and have been men from the beginning of time, and when evil corrupted the souls of men by the fall of Adam, men have been men and have done much evil. Oh, yes; they have done much good as well, in science, in better living conditions, health has improved (of course this was necessary as more and more diseases came about), we drive cars and have airplanes, our travels are easier, all much good, and yet man is man, men are men and they do much evil. This evil offsets the good they may do as evil brings up man harm. There is an evil presently presented as good and acceptable seen everyday, in every way, by men, and women. Watch TV, go to the movies, watch the dress, the tattoos that are common among both men and women, a desire to have an acceptance and look independent when all that done is to join the group; and interdependency. I speak of one type of evil, and there are more and yet I am examining and studying Romans and find that Paul speaking to the Church spoke of this evil and warns the Church to avoid such evil. It is not a new evil, it is an old evil, and this evil seen in the Church came about as it did in the Corinthian Church, and later when Emperor Constantine gave approval to the Christian Church: an influx of pagans bringing into the Church their pagan ways. This fight against evil is not new and it is still a fight that needs fought in the present day Church. Paul wrote on this evil and we must examine this evil as well and then follow God’s word to teach the truth and to do what the Bible commands us to do to clear away evil from the Church. We as a Church are too quick to give acceptance into the Church before the one entering the Church and an examination after teaching that one to know whether or not that person clings to the old evil or has embraced and converted to the truth of God’s word. We baptized too soon! We give jobs in the Church to those that are unprepared and untaught by God’s word. We somehow think if we just get them, busy in the “work of the Lord” they will be upstanding Christians. This thinking allows heresy to invade the Church, false teaching. This has occurred in some “Christian” Churches. What is the evil? Let Paul speak:

“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting” (Romans 1:26–28). Do we not see this everywhere, in advertisements, sitcom shows on TV, and in the movies, men, and women displaying that which was considered pornography or “soft pornography” in times past. Now, there is some idea that we are “modern” and sophisticated, and above such as was done and said in the past. God states His decision on matters of continual sin: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26–27). Paul speaking to the Corinthian Church spoke these words that we should attend to with seriousness: “Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame” (1Corinthians 15:34). It is clear that we, as converted, called by God to be the bride of Jesus Christ, are to ensure that our congregations are cleared of evil, removed, and yet we do not do this well for we seem to have forgotten that we are responsible for ourselves and that extends to our brothers and sisters, to keep unrighteousness out of the Church: “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, wo is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioners––not eve to eat with such a person” (1Corinthians 5:11). Now: some of us were of this sort and have allowed the faith that God has instilled in you that when you heard the Gospel you repented and turned from your evil ways: “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1Corinthians 6:11). Live the life that God has given to you, eternal life, now and experience when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ come again for His bride. Rejoice in that you are saved, and are presently, legally, in heaven and nothing can change that. Prepare now that when you enter into heaven the words: Welcome, well done, good and faithful servant…” (Matthew 25:23a). 

GLORY be to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Glory to Thee who givest me sleep
to recruit my weakness,
and to remit the toils
of this fretful flesh.
To this day and all days,
a perfect, holy, peaceful, healthy,
sinless course,

Vouchsafe O Lord.

Bishop Andrewes, Lancelot (1555-1626)

Live as one of God’s Saints

Richard L. Crumb

           

Creature Worship: God's Patience; Not His Permission

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness,

in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their

bodies among themselves, who exchanged the

truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and

served the creature rather than the Creator,

Who is blessed forever, Amen.

Romans 1:24–25

            This part of the book of Romans strikes at the significant part in regards to our world. This in today as in no other, time. Yes, uncleanness has presented itself in all times and in all nations, but not in the manner that it done in this present age. To look back in history to give validity and reason to those unclean practices as though this is normal and natural is specious inasmuch as this form of argument attempts to give these unclean actions validity when they are deceptively attractive. Notice this: uncleanness that is lust in a heart may at first, is attractive and when examined, as I will attempt to do, found that this attractiveness is only a veil covering much harm. Many of us, at least in some way, found sin to be attractive: right? Why else would we sin? If sin does not attract us then we are the most ignorant of people: in fact stupid! How often, and only you or I know, did the Holy Spirit that indwells a believer who has lost his way and allowed his own desires, attempt to park the Holy Spirit outside the bedroom door while we satisfy our lusts? Oh! I expect a sinner, a non–Christian to do just that; satisfy their lusts without any regard as to whether or not it is wrong. For them it is not wrong. Does God agree with that assessment? No! God gives those who desire and perform uncleanness by giving them up to that uncleanness. This uncleanness, no matter Christian or not, is nothing more than a dishonor to your or their bodies. All said: this is an exchange the truth of God for a lie and by this, worship, and serves the natural corrupted man and not the Creator. There is no excuse, not for a Christian, and even not for a non–Christian. Do not even non–Christians have judiciary laws against such: i.e., prostitution, regulation of marriage vows and divorce, murder, stealing, incest, pornography, etc.? Yes! They, the non–Christians know what is right and wrong morally and yet they by their lusts allow uncleanness to rule their lives. We, as a child of God have in us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and if allowed will guide us in truth and not in carnal lusts. As stated, we may have been such as lustful in our unclean desires that are an affront against our Creator and Holy God; and this by God’s grace forgiven by God when we repent. Not that we are caught in a sin and are sorry, no, we fall on our knees and beg forgiveness for we sinned against God who has saved us and given us eternal life. Yes, it is true that the consequences of our sin will remain, at least in some fashion due to the seriousness of the sin; i.e., a cocaine user that has lost the septum of his nose and now has a hard time to breath, or a man or woman with syphilis, or AIDS, or any other of the 26 STD’s. Maybe it is the deterioration of a body due to excess of alcohol, whatever it is God is not and will not remove that consequence unless by His grace and purpose He does so. We don’t know the will of God, but we do know He forgives and will still save His child. God is patient, but don’t mistake His patience for permission. The better consequences are those due to our obedience to Him.

            This uncleanness by man and the fact that God will not stop them in their lusts will by God’s allowance allow them to continue in their vile passions: and these vile passions in this present age can be seen by the prominence of sexuality in the movies, on TV, in magazines, advertisement, and in the way people dress. Women showing off their breasts, men wearing clothing, or swimsuits that reveal their genitals, and they hope and desire by doing such things they can satisfy their lusts. They even as is being done, homosexuality is presented as natural and given highlights as being a good thing as can be seen in sitcoms on TV. Here is what God inspired Paul to write: “For this reason God give them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due”(Romans 1:26–27). Can this be any clearer and plain? Yet, there are some Churches allow homosexuals (I will not call homosexuality “gay.”) to be pastors, and leaders, even this unclean group of people force their way into such as the Boy Scouts, and into the lives of our children. God’s word is not the guide for those Churches and they have not been true to God and His Son who died for sin and has plainly spoken to us the truth and the way man is to live. Oh! Yes! It is love that drives them to be so kind to that which God has clearly condemned. What kind of love is this? Man love and not God love. The love of God is plainly stated in the Greek: “άγάπη” which is without doubt a moral and charitable love and this love is the love of God toward the human race, and it is His will to His children concerning their attitude toward one another. This love of God spread in the hearts of man and this love for God is expressed first of all by our obedience to His commandments: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). This love does not give allowance to sin and not to allow sin to remain in the Church. It is not that we harm physically those who are caught up in sin and uncleanness, no, we show love to them, a God love, by telling them the Gospel while at the same time not acquiescing our hearts to their unclean hearts. It is the Gospel that is needed; it is the Gospel that opens the heart. It is the hearts of those, who has allowed the faith given to them to be pushed aside for the attractiveness of sin. The Gospel will shed the light of truth and draw them out of this darkness.

            I will in the next blogs extend our knowledge as to the uncleanness and its affect upon society. Until then, pray for God’s guidance, and prepare now to meet with your brothers and sisters in corporate worship this Sunday.

It is a joy for the just

            To do justice,

But destruction will

            Come to the

Workers of iniquity.

                        Proverbs 21:15

Be wise in the wisdom of God

Richard L. Crumb

Walking In The Light: By Faith

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven

against all ungodliness and unrighteousness

of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

because what may be known of God is manifest

in them, for God has shown it to them.

Romans 1:18–19

            Faith having its beginning in faith is a requirement for man towards God because God is infinite and there is no possibility in the finite to know the infinite. Therefore God who is infinite reveals to the finite Himself. This revelation to man, the finite, is a righteous revelation because God Himself is righteous and we ought to, by faith, receive this revelation for it is manifest in man. Man is without excuse due this very fact, we made in the image of God that is we have the attributes necessary to know God, and when we refuse that knowledge, we become ungodly and unrighteous. How does one become ungodly and unrighteous? Those suppress the truth. This is where we must put on our “thinking cap.” We so often apply suppression of the truth of God to those who are pagan, and idolaters, etc., and we forget this very thing: It is anyone who suppresses the truth are the ungodly and unrighteous, both pagans and those claiming Christianity. Suppress the truth of God and God will reveal and execute His wrath; from heaven. That is not to say that God in heaven to execute His wrath will not use governments ordained of God and we are without excuse for God is manifest in us. This manifestation of Him, the truth, shown to man removes that God is unjust in His execution of His wrath. Paul continues to reveal to us why this is so: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and God head, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:20–21). There it is: you cannot claim ignorance! You cannot claim that you cannot know God! No, you can’t know God fully for there are things that God has not revealed: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29). This darkness that comes by refusal to acknowledge God is like a person entering into a cave, at first there is light, and then as the person continues into the cave the light becomes dimmer and dimmer, until there is no light and you cannot even see your hand right in front of your face. The way to leave the darkness is to return to the light: “Then Jesus spoke to them saying: ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life’” (John 8:12). When all is dark and you cannot know the way back to the light, you need a guide one and who is the guide? It is the Holy Spirit Who will lead you to the light. To continue in darkness is foolishness, even though in the darkness the problems that afflict you seem afar off, and the deepness of the cave is refreshingly cool and enjoyable: you are still in the dark and in time you will suffer from that darkness, if not you at the moment, you children in the future. Darkness is darkness and light is light. Darkness leads to foolish thoughts: i.e., evolution, paganism, and other forms of life that bring the wrath of God upon the one in darkness. The one in light can see their way, and find the truth and live in an unspeakable joy for in the light are all things revealed. The ones in darkness may tout with all emotion and sincerity about the good things in the darkness, and yet: “Professing to be wise, they become foolish” (Romans 1:22). How did they become so foolish in this darkness? “and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man–and birds and four–footed animals and creeping things” (Romans 1:23). Wait a minute! You say: “I don’t make birds, and four–footed animals and creeping as idols!” Maybe you don’t: but, think of this; idolatry may be confined in your mind as to such as birds and four–footed animals, even creeping things, but this is not what is idolatry in of itself. Idolatry is anything that is not of God that has your veneration. It may be a car, a house, clothes, or a celebrity, etc., for it is what we venerate, that is worship in some way that is not worship to God who has manifested to us from creation that it is Him that we are to venerate and worship. Otherwise our veneration and worship is foolishness and ungodly and unrighteous. Therefore, those who participate in such things can only look for God’s wrath from heaven.

            From the fall of Adam and the corruption by sin, this inherited sin now in the world that plagues man, their soul cannot and does not desire the things of God even when God came to earth to pay this debt of sin and corruption of the soul: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and man loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been don in God” (John 3:19–21). We who have converted to the truth, light have the Word of God in our hearts and the word of God in our Bibles and upon any examination of the Bible we find that it is confirmed true and when we investigate this world we find God manifested in truth: “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2Peter 1:19).

            The world is darkness and we live in that darkness, but we have the light that shines in this dark place. Rejoice over that fact. We are no abandoned children, orphans without a father, for we have the Father, His Only Begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit, and by these three Persons of the Godhead we await the day when the Morning Star not only rises in our hearts, but comes to take us home.

When the wicked are multiplied,

            Transgression increases;

But the righteous will see their fall.

                                    Proverbs 29:16

Walk in the Light: You will be blessed

Richard L. Crumb